Ball-float.



Nb. 740,626. I PATENTED' 001?. e, 1903.

J. P. BURLINGA'ME.

BALL PLOATi APPLICATION FILED NOVI'IZ, 1902.

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- Patented October 6, 1903.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH P. BURLINGAME, OF LAKEWOOD, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JENNIE E. FIELD, OF LAKEWOOD, RHODE ISLAND.

BAL L- F LOAT.

LPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 740,625, dated October 6, 1903.

Application filed November 12, 1902. 7 Serial No. 130,978. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it knownthat I, JOSEPH P. BURLINGAME, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lake wood, in the county of Kent and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and use ful Improvement in Ball-Floats, of which the following is a specification.

Th is invention has reference to an improvement in the ball-floats usually connected with the Valve controlling the water-supply to cisterns, flushing-tanks for water-closets, and other reservoirs.

Ball-floats consists usually of a hollow metal sphere which is provided with a lever connected with the water-supplyvalve. The ball acts to lift the endof the lever secured to the ball as the level of the water rises and to depress the end of the lever as the level of the 1 water is lowered.

The reliability of the device depends on the capacity of the ball to float in the water.

Ball-floats to which the operating-lever is secured at one side of the ball deteriorate soon by the bucking action of thethin metal of the ball adjacent to the joint. Therefore the lever is preferably extended through the ball. This requires two joints, usually made by soldering the lever into the holes of the ball.

- The conditions under which ball-floats are used induce electric action when two kinds of metal are in contact with each. other and soon affect the parts adjacent to the joint sufficiently to cause leaks.

The objects of this invention are toprevent these injurious actions on the ball-float and secure greater reliability of the device.

To this end the invention consists in the ball-float with a cup for the reception of the end of the lever and with a non-corrodable joint, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

Figure 1 is a side view ofmyimproved ballfioat. Fig. 2 is a sectional viewof the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of aportion of the ball, partly in sectiomand the nut securing the lever to the ball as seen from the inside.

pole of the ball a, and c a hole in the opposite pole .of the ball. The protuberance a is formed by forcing the metal of the ball outward to produce a cup into which the end I) of the lever 17 may be inserted and held without perforating the ball. The leverb is secured in the hole a without the use of solder. The part b of the lever 19 is screwthreaded, and the part b is preferably made of less diameter and" secured in a socket formed in the end of the main part of the lever 11. The clamp-piece b is inserted through the hole a and held in place. The part b is inserted through the screw-threaded hole in the clamp-piece, and the lever is turned until the end I) is supported in the protuberance a and the clamp-pieceb bears against the inner surface of the ball a. A gasket b of rubber or other elastic material, is placed over the hole a and is compressed by screwing the flanged nut against the gasket b thereby making an air .and Water tight joint. The ball, the lever, the clamp-piece, and the nut b are designed to be made all of the same metal, so that no electric or other injurious action can take place.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a ball-float, aballhaving a cup-shaped protuberance on one side and an opening on the opposite side for the reception of the operating-lever, as described.

2. In a ball-float, a seamless ball made from one piece of metal, having a cup-shaped protuberance on one side and an opening on the opposite side for the reception of the operating-lever, as described.

3. In a ball-float, the combination with a ball provided with a cup on one side and an opening on the opposite side, of a lever extending through the opening in the ball and supported'in the cup, and a packed joint for securing the lever to the ball and closing the opening, as described. 7

4:. In a ball-float, the combination with the hollow ball a, the protuberance a and the opening a of the lever-b, the screw-threaded part 12 the clamp-piece b the non-metallic gasket 12 and the flanged nut b, as described.

5. In a. ball-float, the combination with the In testimony whereof I have signed my lever b, the part b of less diameter, the screwname to this specification in the presence of threaded part b of the lever, the clamp-piece two subscribing Witnesses.

b and the flanged nut b, of the hollow ball JOSEPH P. BURLINGAME. 5 a, the protuberance a, the hole a in the ball, Witnesses:

and an elastic packing clamped over the hole B. S. WEBSTER,

in the ball, as described. J OS. A. MILLER, Jr. 

